Means for punching the nipples used on nursing bottles



March 15, 1966 YUICH, NAKATA 3,239,933

MEANS FOR PUNCHING THE NIPPLES USED ON NURSING BOTTLES Filed Jan. 17.1964 FIG. 3.

INVENTO/Q.

YU/C'H/ NAKA 4,

United States Patent 3,239,933 MEANS FOR PUNCHING THE NIPPLES USED ONNURSING BOTTLES Yuichi Nalrata, 9238 Higashi-kaigan, Chigasalri-shi,Japan Filed Jan. 17, 1964, Ser. No. 338,406 2 Claims. (Cl. 30358) Thisinvention relates to a means for punching holes in the nipples used onnursing bottles. The nipples commonly used on nursing bottles areusually formed of rubber or other elastomeric material, and are providedwith a small opening for the egress of fluids therethrough.

If an infant consumes milk or formula food from a bottle too rapidly itsdigestion may be upset by the admixture of saliva with the food and theingestion of air. If the food be consumed too slowly, the infiantbecomes exhausted and does not finish its formula. Applicants studiesindicate that about fifteen minutes is an optimum time. As a result ofthese studies it has been found that the nursing time can be suitablycontrolled by varying the diameter of the hole in the nipple. For anewly born infant the opening in the nipple may be 0.3 to 0.35 mm. Atage two months, the nipple opening may be 0.4 to 0.5 mm; at three orfour months the nipple opening may be 0.5 to 0.6 mm., and after thefifth month the nipple opening may be from 0.6 to 0.7 mm.

An object of this invention is the provision of a nipple punching devicefor making a suitable opening in the top of a nursing bottle nipple.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a nipple punchingdevice having a plurality of interchangeable punching members ofdilferent sizes.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a nipple punchingdevice having a handle including means for storing a plurality ofpunching elements therein.

A further object of this invention is the production of a portablenipple punching device that is easy to use and that can be operated bypersons of little or no mechanioal skill.

These and other objects will appear upon consideration with thefollowing specification taken with the accompanying drawing, whichtogether form a complete disclosure of my invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an elevation of one form of my invention;

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates in elevation the operation of the device of FIG. 1,in punching a nipple, with parts in section;

FIG. 4 is a vertical section of a modified form of the invention;

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of an interchangeable punching element;

FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of the element shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an elevation, partly in section of a further modified form ofthe invention; and

FIG. 8 is a top view with parts broken away, of the form of device shownin FIG. 7.

In FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the punching device includes a substantiallycylindrical handle 1, a reduced portion 2 having a hemispherical bottom3. A hollow punch 4 of suitable diameter, projects from thehemispherical portion 3 in the direction of the axis of the handle 1.The punch 4 has sharp edges and when the portion 2 is inserted in anipple 6, as shown in FIG. 3, and pressed toward the resilient die plate7, a hole 8, of suitable diameter, is made in the nipple 6.

In FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 the handle 21 is a hollow cylinder having an innerchamber 22 adapted to hold a plurality ice of punching devices 23. Thepunches 23 have rounded portions 26 at one end and threaded portions 27at the other end. A hollow punch member 28 extends from the end 26 in anaxial direction. The handle has a threaded portion 24 at one end toreceive the end 27, and a cap 25 is threaded on the other end. Withinthe chamber 22 a plurality of punching members 23 may be stored, eachhaving a different punch, as 28a, 28b and 280. When it is desired topunch a nipple, a punch member 23, with the desired punch 28a, 2312 or28c is threaded in the portion 24 as shown in dash line, and the punchis sued as shown in FIG. 3.

In the modified form of the device as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the handle41 is slightly tapered downwardly and has a part spherical upper end 43.The handle 41 is hollow to form a tubular part 42 and terminates in anupper face 44 having depressions 45 therein, shaped to receive the necks46 which have cylindrical body portions with semispherical lower endportions 47. The other end portions are threaded as at 48 to be receivedinto the threaded portion 52 of the handle 41. Each neck 46 has a hollowpunch 49, the punches being different in size, as explained inconnection with punches 28a, 28b and 28c. A flexible die plate 51 fitsover the necks 46 and a hollow semispherical cover 50 is threaded ontothe portion 43. A tail cap 53, having no punch projecting therefrom maybe threaded into the socket 52.

For use, the tail piece 53 is removed and one of the necks 46 is screwedinto the threads 52. The plate 51 is placed on a firm solid surface anda nipple is punched in a manner similar to that shown in FIG. 3.

It should be clear from the above that I have provided a simple, easilyoperated punching device for nipples which can be used to providenipples with openings suited to the age and strength of the nursinginfant. When openings of a different size are desired, it is onlynecessary to remove a neck 23 or 46 and replace it with one having apunch of the desired size.

I claim:

1. A device for punching openings in nursing bottle nipples comprisingan elongated handle member, a plurality of pockets in one end of thehandle member and a threaded portion at the opposite end, a neck memberhaving a threaded portion at one end and a semispherical shape at theopposite end in each pocket, a hollow punch secured to each neck at thesemispherical end, each of the punches being of a different size wherebyto selectively allow the forming of holes of different diameters, a tailpiece threaded to said threaded portion at the opposite end, and asemispherical cap fitted on said one end.

2. A structure as in claim 1 further including a die plate storedbetween the cap and necks.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 190,747 5/1877Dit Lepine 30-3 68 874,583 12/1907 Garret 30 152 X 1,541,078 6/1925Sudweeks 30-366 X 1,679,176 7/ 1928 Schneider 30358 2,087,186 7/ 1937Freeman 30-358 2,545,521 3/1951 Knapik 30l5l X FOREIGN PATENTS 21,5345/1883 Germany. 257,511 10/1912 Germany. 193,142 1/ 1938 Switzerland.

WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner.

MILTON S. MEHR, Examiner.

1. A DEVICE FOR PUNCHING OPENINGS IN NURSING BOTTLE NIPPLES COMPRISINGAN ELONGATE HANDLE MEMBER, A PLURALITY OF POCKETS IN ONE END OF THEHANDLE MEMBER AND A THREADED PORTION AT THE OPPOSITE END, A NECK MEMBERHAVING A THREADED PORTION AT ONE END AND A SEMISPHERICAL SHAPE AT THEOPPOSITE END IN EACH POCKET, A HOLLOW PUNCH SECURED TO EACH NECK AT THESEMISPHERICAL END, EACH OF THE PUNCHES BEING OF A DIFFERENT SIZE WHEREBYTO SELECTIVELY ALLOW THE FORMING OF HOLES OF DIFFERENT DIAMETERS, A TAILPIECE THREADED TO SAID THREADED PORTION AT THE OPPOSITE END, AND ASEMISPHERICAL CAP FITTED ON SAID ONE END.